After the Quake

“The earth shook for precisely seventeen seconds. Exactly seventeen seconds—no more, no less.”

UFO in Kushiro

Komura’s wife leaves him after the Kobe earthquake, claiming he is “empty.” A coworker suggests he deliver a mysterious package to Hokkaido. On the journey, he meets two women who reveal unsettling truths about human nature. The package remains unopened, symbolizing unresolved emotions.

Landscape with Flatiron

Junko, a young woman, spends time with Miyake, an older artist who obsessively burns paintings. They discuss fear, survival, and the earthquake’s psychological impact. Miyake’s final act—burning his last painting—mirrors the impermanence of life, leaving Junko with a haunting sense of loss.

All God’s Children Can Dance

Yoshiya, raised by a religious mother who claims his father is God, follows a mysterious man he believes is his biological father. The journey leads him to a baseball field, where he dances alone, embracing uncertainty and his own identity.

Thailand

Satsuki, a middle-aged doctor, travels to Thailand and meets an old fortune teller who tells her she must “kill the stone” inside her to be free. The dreamlike encounter forces her to confront repressed trauma from the earthquake and her past.

Super-Frog Saves Tokyo

Katagiri, a lonely banker, is visited by a giant frog who enlists his help to fight an underground worm threatening Tokyo. The surreal battle becomes a metaphor for personal and collective resilience after disaster. Katagiri awakens unsure if it was real or a dream.

Honey Pie

Junpei, a writer, reconnects with an old love, Sayoko, and her daughter. He tells the child a fairy tale about “Honey Pie,” a bear who protects others. The story reflects Junpei’s longing for connection and the healing power of storytelling after tragedy.

Key Ideas

• Trauma and isolation in the aftermath of disaster
• Surrealism blending with everyday reality
• Search for identity and meaning
• Human vulnerability and resilience
• The power of storytelling as healing